Zimbabwe / Cholera outbreak / Other countries in the southern African region will face the continued threat of spillover epidemics,

 

 

 

 

Zimbabwe / Cholera outbreak / Other countries in the southern African region will face the continued threat of spillover epidemics,

 

 

HARARE, Zimbabwe, February 2, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Daily press briefing by the office of the spokesperson for the UN secretary-general

 

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that Zimbabwe’s cholera outbreak, one of the world’s largest ever recorded, is far from being brought under control.  An enhanced response is needed to urgently reverse an epidemic that has so far infected more than 60,000 people and killed more than 3,100 since August 2008.

 

“Unless drastic action is taken by all players in this crisis, more Zimbabweans will succumb to the outbreak, and other countries in the southern African region will face the continued threat of spillover epidemics,” says Eric Laroche, Assistant Director-General for WHO’s Health Action in Crises Cluster.

 

WHO lists, in a press release, a number of urgent measures needed in Zimbabwe.  And you can pick that up upstairs.

 

In an effort to bolster the fight against the spread of the disease, the United Nations Humanitarian Affairs Office says it has allocated some $7.8 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help the Zimbabwean authorities and United Nations agencies to implement a number of urgently-needed life-saving programmes.

 

SOURCE : United Nations – Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General